Foundation for Open Society - Macedonia (FOSM)

The Foundation Open Society – Macedonia (FOSM) was established in 1992 as representative office of a foreign entity, and was registered as national legal entity – foundation – in 1999, pursuant to the Law on Citizens’ Associations and Foundations. FOSM is part of the Open Society Foundations’ global network, founded by the US philanthropist George Soros. Committed to promotion of open society and building of dynamic and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable and open to their people, by means of its programs FOSM initiates and implements own activities and supports initiatives of the broader civil society in Macedonia in compliance with its mission and goals. FOSM’s principle governing body is the Executive Board, comprised of seven distinguished individuals with different ethnic and professional backgrounds. As needed, FOSM establishes Advisory Committees tasked with provision of relevant expertise and guidelines for actions in particular areas of operation. FOSM’s Executive Director represents the foundation in front of other legal entities and natural persons and is authorized to endorse and sign documents on behalf of FOSM. FOSM’s mission is internal integration as precondition for Macedonia’s integration in the European Union. Foundation’s goals are defined for each three-year strategic period. Instruments used for attainment of FOSM’s goal include: grant-awarding and other types of financial support to natural persons and legal entities implementing activities in compliance with FOSM’s mission; initiation, creation and implementation of operational programs aimed to promote innovative ideas in compliance with FOSM’s mission; and other humanitarian and development activities that the Founder and the Executive Board consider adequate for the purpose of achieving FOSM’s mission.  FOSM initiates and supports various civil society activities that range from capacity building, to policy making and advocacy for social changes. In order to address needs of different target groups, in particular the youth, Roma and socially marginalized groups, FOSM cooperates with other domestic and international non-governmental organizations and donors, with a view to undertake actions that foster sustainable democracy. Determined to rebuild democracy and democratic governance, FOSM implements its strategic goals for the period 2014-2017 by means of: (1) supporting 12 CSOs to advance fields of Freedom of Expression, Youth Engagement for Social Change, Challenging Health Establishment to Advance Human Rights, Human Rights Monitoring and Documentation, Combating Government Corruption, Budget Transparency; and (2) implementing four individual strategy concepts, those being: Civic Empowerment and Mobilization, Model of Citizen-Centric Municipality, Roma Integration, and Humanitarian and Legal Assistance to Migrants.